A Lancet Public Health study finds that death rates among adults aged 25–49 were 42% higher in the North than in the South of England in 2024, up from a 13% gap in 1981, meaning the relative gap has more than tripled over four decades.

In 2024, after adjusting for age and sex, death rates were 26% higher in the North than the South for all people under 75.

The research shows that while overall mortality has fallen, the North–South gap for young adults has widened, with the North’s relative risk rising from 13% in 1981 to 42% in the latest analysis.

The authors call for bold, sustained action from the government and other organizations, noting that solving these inequalities will likely take decades and require a comprehensive strategy rather than a single policy.

Personal stories from patients and staff, including Lindsay Cooke and Dr. Laura Neilson, illustrate how social support and welfare services intersect with healthcare and how targeted interventions help people manage chronic conditions and access essential resources.

Policy recommendations include giving regional authorities more powers to address social and economic determinants of health and directing funding to areas of high deprivation to narrow health gaps.

Deprivation is identified as a major contributing factor to the mortality gap, with earlier work from the same group showing strong links between poorer conditions and health outcomes.

The divide affects working-age adults and women in early to mid-life and is described as a major challenge for government.

The article includes quotes from researchers at the University of Liverpool, University of Manchester, and Health Equity North, and references the full Lancet Public Health study for more detail.

Commentary from researchers emphasizes radical, sustained policy action to improve health, work, and opportunities in the North to mitigate regional inequalities and support the economy.

The study did not analyze specific causes of death but plans further analyses to identify contributing causes.

The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledges health inequalities and cites ongoing actions, such as the Neighbourhood Health Centres rollout in affected areas, while underscoring a long-term, multi-policy approach.